Coronavirus (Covid-19)

 What is Coronavirus(COVID-19)?

COVID-19, the coronavirus that emerged in December 2019, is a SARS-CoV-2 illness. In short, Coronavirus disease is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus. The virus can spread from person to person.

How did the Coronavirus start?

The first COVID-19 case, which was later known as SARS-CoV-2, was reported on 1 December 2019. SARS-CoV-2 may have come from an animal and been modified (mutated) to cause human disease. Viruses originating in birds, pigs, bats and other animals, which have transformed into a deadly environment for humans, have in past epidemics of various infectious diseases. Further research can show how and why the coronavirus has changed to generate pandemic sickness.

Why is it called Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are named for their appearance: “corona” means “crown.” The virus’s outer layers are covered with spike proteins that surround them like a crown.

Symptoms of Coronavirus:

Some persons with COVID-19 infections, like other respiratory conditions, may experience moderate symptoms and are readily recovered, and others may get quite unwell and need urgent medical care.

COVID-19 can cause modest symptoms but may be harder for some people and lead to pneumonia or respiratory problems, even fatal for some.

Symptoms can include:

• fever (a temperature of 37.5˚C or higher) or chills
• cough
• loss of taste or smell
• sore throat
• tiredness (fatigue)
• runny or blocked nose
• shortness of breath (difficulty breathing)
• nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• headache
• muscle or joint pain
• loss of appetite

How Coronavirus spread?

The most probable diffusion of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is:

Direct contact with a person during their being infected (typically face to face contact for a period of at least 15 minutes or in the same lock space for a minimum of 2 hours) with droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person.

COVID-19 can also spread to the touch of a person with cough or sneeze drops or touching the mouth, nose, eyes or face through the use of doorknobs, tables, mobile phones, stairs, lifts or surfaces.

Who is most at risk?

COVID-19 infections can occur in people of various ages.

Older persons and people with previously existing medical issues, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, etc., are more susceptible to a serious illness due to the virus.

Ensure that chronic diseases are controlled or managed so that you are the healthiest you can be. Discuss with your Doctor how you can.

How is Coronavirus treated?

Coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment tackles the symptoms and indicators of the infection and supports those with severe illness. Your doctor may suggest measures like fever reduction or over-the-counter drugs for mild cases of coronavirus sickness. More serious cases may require hospital care where a patient may be given a mix of steroids, oxygen, mechanical help for breathing, and additional developmental COVID-19 therapy. Monoclonal antibody infusions administered to some patients in early infection may improve symptoms, severity, and disease duration.

How to prevent Covid-19?

You can take steps to protect yourself from COVID-19. For example, by:

• getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
• practising physical distancing.
• staying home when you are unwell.
• practising good hand hygiene.
• covering coughs and sneezes wiping down surfaces.
• using COVID Safe Check-in at businesses, events and venues.

Are there different variants of Coronavirus?

Yes, this coronavirus has numerous variations. The coronavirus COVID-19 causes can alter like other viruses (mutate). A novel variety was detected in the UK in December 2020, B.1.1.7, and since then there have been variants worldwide in various countries, including B.1.351, that were originally isolated in South Africa, and others. Mutations may allow the coronavirus to transmit more quickly from person to person. More infections can lead to more people being very sick, and can also lead to more mutations in the virus.